Wyoming's 9 Most Underrated Towns to Visit in 2024
With a population just above 500,000, Wyoming is the least populous state in the United States, which makes it an ideal place for beautiful locales such as Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park and quaint small towns. Wyoming is a great state to visit in 2024 for a relaxing vacation where you can experience rodeos, gorgeous landscapes, small stores, and more. With the mountains and its old West vibe, there are many fun places and welcoming small towns to visit in the Equality State. With a low population and a plethora of wide open space, Wyoming is often overlooked for the glitz and glam of more popular states. However, hidden throughout the state are plenty of underrated towns to visit in 2024.
Ten Sleep
On the foothills of the Bighorn Mountains, Ten Sleep gets its name from Native Americans to represent the time it took to travel from it to other camps in the area. The town is most famous for its rock climbing, as climbers from all over the country visit Ten Sleep Canyon. For less strenuous activities, visitors can go camping, hiking, fishing, or boating in the Bighorn Mountains and Bighorn National Forest.
The town also features the 4th of July Parade and a rodeo that has been in operation since 1946. In addition, on July 6 and 7 2024, Ten Sleep is hosting a mountain therapy session called Out of the Darkness & Into the Bighorns. Relax at the end of the day with ice cream or a sandwich at Dirty Sally's, or have a brew at the Ten Sleep Brewing Company.
Jackson
Home to nearly 11,000 people, Jackson is close to numerous attractions such as the Grand Teton National Park, National Elk Refuge, and Yellowstone. The Jackson Hole Children's Museum offers interactive exhibits for kids of all ages. It's also close to the National Museum of Wildlife Art.
For winter activities, visit Snow King Mountain for gondola rides, skiing, snowboarding, tubing, and a Cowboy Coaster to take a wintery, thrill-filled ride through the mountains. If you want to test out your skiing skills, try out the 7th Annual Skiing with the Stars event, held on March 14, 2024, where you can ski with US Ski Team members, Olympic champions, film stars, and more.
Cody
Cody is a hub for old West activities, especially if you are a fan of Buffalo Bill. Named as the Top Western Town by True West Magazine, its primary attraction is the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, which features five museums. These museums include the Buffalo Bill Museum, which stores many artifacts of Buffalo Bill himself and Annie Oakley, the Plains Indian Museum, the Cody Firearms Museum, the Draper Natural History Museum, and the Whitney Western Art Museum.
Sit back and enjoy a show at the Wild West Spectacular Musical held from July 2 to 4, 2024, which makes it a perfect town to visit in Wyoming for a summer vacation. For other attractions, check out the Cody Rodeo or enjoy a meal at the Buffalo Bill's Irma Hotel & Restaurant.
Buffalo
Located next to the Johnson County Airport, Buffalo is full of history, with a historic district with more than a dozen buildings, such as the Occidental Hotel, which was famously featured in the book The Virginian, written by Owen Wister. Other historical sites include Fort Phil Kearney and the Hole in the Wall, where Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid hid from the law. The city also offers multiple hiking, biking, fishing and hiking trails. For gifts, check out the Treasure Chest Antiques and Collectibles or Silver Sage Jewelry and Gifts.
For other attractions, spend a day golfing at the Buffalo Golf Club or get a massage at the Healing Massage Clinic. From July 18 to 21, 2024, experience the Longmire book and TV series in action by attending the Longmire Days event, where actors from the show will be in attendance.
Cheyenne
Despite being the capital and most populous city in Wyoming with 65,000 people, Cheyenne maintains a small-town feel with a great deal of underrated attractions and activities. Gamblers can check out the New Horse Palace, which has 70 games, along with betting for horse, greyhound, and harness racing. Cheyenne is also well known for trains as the site of the Big Boy Steam Engine, the largest steam engine in the world, and the Ames Monument, a 60-foot pyramid dedicated to Oakes and Oliver Ames, who helped construct the first Transcontinental Railroad.
For other historical sites, check out the Historic Atlas Theater, which was opened in 1887 and added to the National Register of Historic Places, or learn more about the Old West at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum.
Powell
As the gateway to the Yellowstone National Park, Powell is ideal for a day in nature. In the summer, hike, bike, or ride horses on the trails or go on a canoe, kayak, or boat on one of the 600 lakes and ponds and more than 1,000 rivers and streams. In the fall, visitors can use the hunting grounds, and in the winter, skiing trails open at Pahaska Tepee and the Wood River Meeteetse trails. The park is famous for a reason, especially due to its hot springs.
You can also visit the Homesteader Museum or Heart Mountain Interpretive Center after a day of hiking. The interpretive center itself is the site of a former Japanese American Relocation Camp, where Japanese Americans were interned during World War II. You can learn more about this at a museum in the center.
Sheridan
Located at the base of the Bighorn Mountains, Sheridan has the highest concentration of battle sites in the Indian Wars, with the Battle of Little Bighorn National Monument just to the north of the city, the site where Crazy Horse defeated and killed General Custer and his 7th Cavalry Regiment. The town has an impressive variety of historical buildings, such as the Historic Sheridan Inn, the Trail End Historic Site, and the Mint Bar, which has been in service since 1907 (other than serving as a speakeasy during Prohibition).
Sheridan also offers fishing, ATV riding, golf, mountain biking, and many other outdoor activities to keep your heart racing. Sheridan will host its annual Antelope Butte Music & Art Summit from August 25 to 27, 2024, which is a fantastic event for singers, songwriters, and lovers of art.
Rock Springs
Rock Springs is a charming locale with an intriguing history. It was the center of a coal mining operation, which drew in people from all over the world and earned it the nickname City of 56 Nationalities. Nowadays, it has a number of attractions that speak to both its history and natural beauty, such as the Historic Mine Trail, Adobe Town, golf course, and the Wild Horse Holding Facility, where you can view the wild horses of the west in action.
You can learn about the town's history in the railroad industry by visiting the Union Pacific Depot or Rock Springs Historical Museum. Also nearby is the White Mountain Petroglyphs site, which brings in 12,000 visitors per year to look at rock art panels that are more than 200 years old and made by multiple Native American tribes in the area.
Lander
Lander advertises itself as the spot "Where the rails end and the trails begin" since it served as the western terminus for the Cowboy Line railway. The area features the Sinks Canyon State Park, Wind River Mountains, and Red Canyon, which features trails, mountain biking, rock climbing, fishing, and more. Visitors can rent a mountain, road bike, or cross-country ski equipment to enjoy the area to the fullest.
Lander hosts the International Climbers Festival in July and Lander Brewfest in June, with beers from multiple breweries. You can also learn about the history of Lander and how pioneers survived on the Western frontier at the Fremont County Pioneer Museum and the Museum of the American West.
Despite being the smallest state population-wise in the US, Wyoming is no slacker when it comes to great places to visit in 2024. With mountains, rivers, lakes, and rodeos, there is always something to explore. And with a bountiful number of museums, visitors can get the full experience of the Old West. In 2024, there are a number of great events to experience as well, ranging from musicals, festivals, 4th of July celebrations, and other summer events. Consider adding these towns to your travel plans this year.
